Helio Castroneves was caught blocking (in this scenario it’s a no-no) his teammate Will Power which to me looked like the slightest of blocking, but whatever the officials know better than me. Plus Will did say in his post-race interview that Helio blocked him and well you’re not supposed to do that.

So Helio, who finished first, didn’t win the race and proceeded to go apeshit when he got out of his car. That had to have been one of the awesomest racing-related tantrums I’ve ever heard/seen on live television. The video is below and it gets good at about the 3:55 mark.

My only gripe was that Versus didn’t cut to Helio sooner. They should of had a straight shot on him the entire time, why bother talking to Scott Dixon, who would have been second but ended up winning the race because of the penalty levied against Helio. I’m sure Scott was grateful (who wouldn’t be?), but who cares what he had to say. Helio was where the action was at.

I can’t blame Helio for his reaction. I’d be highly irritated too, he won that race but one little block and he ended up 10th. That blows.

So, I thought it was great that the Indy Racing League put Milka Duno on probation. That was looooooong overdue. I don’t get that woman, I really don’t. Maybe I’m just dense, but can someone explain to me why she can’t go the same speed as everyone else? Aren’t they all driving the same car? What’s going on there? If Milka would like to tell me about her deal I’d be more than happy to chat about it with her.

Oh and one other thing, one of the Versus pit reporters was talking to the strategist for rookie Simona De Silvestro. It was her very first IZOD IndyCar Series race, she’s been running in the Indy Lights Series this year. So the pit reporter starts talking to the the guy and he’s talking about Simona like she’s a horse, “She’s a girl, does she have a chance??” Okay, he didn’t say those EXACT words (not far off though) but that was basically the gist. Which, I don’t have to remind you, is RIDICULOUS. Why did he even need to point out her gender? Who effing cares? She qualified 7th, clearly she’s very capable of driving a race car.

E.J. Viso

Ryan Hunter Reay and his fiancee Beccy Gordon

Tony Kanaan

I like to call Tomas Scheckter “shecky.” And here’s a useless fact, Tomas and I are the same age but I’m 21 days older than him. Yay 1980!

Danica Patrick, uhm, ya got some notes in your face.

I couldn’t decide which photo of Marco Andretti I liked better so I’m using both! I think he should have a “pose-off” with Kasey Kahne. Jenkies!

This is Bertrand Baguette, he’s a rookie. Every time I hear his name I wanna go buy bread and some nice Brie cheese. Doesn’t that sound yummy?

Dario Franchitti signing autographs

Mario Moraes

On Friday all of the Brazilian IndyCar drivers gathered to watch Brazil play The Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Brazil lost, which sucks (I’m over the World Cup since the US is out of it — just being honest here), but there were some awesome photos (see below) of Helio Castroneves in some heinous glasses and Tony Kanaan blowing his vuvuzela.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (right), along with Andretti Autosport, announced that they’ve secured enough sponsorship money to continue Ryan’s #37 entry through the rest of the 2010 season. This is great news and to make it even sweeter the team has put together a new program called “Racing For Cancer” to raise money for cancer research.

Ryan’s mother, Lydia, died last year in November from colon cancer and he’s dedicating this racing season to her. For more information go to www.racingforcancer.org. You can also follow them on Twitter @RacingForCancer

Among Ryan’s sponsors for the remainder of the 2010 season is AirTran Airways. I’m noting this because once upon a time I wrote to Southwest Airlines asking if they’d sponsor me and they said they couldn’t because they make a point of not sponsoring things that can crash. Kudos to AirTran Airways for taking a chance and sponsoring a great driver anyway.

Helio Castroneves

The World Cup viewing party at Watkins Glen.

Tony Kanaan

E.J. Viso

Isn’t Mario Moraes’ helmet hypnotic?

Scott and Emma Dixon

Paul Tracy

Firestone Indy Lights drive James Hinchcliffe

Hmm, who’s missing from this team photo? Her name starts with a D and ends with an A. Pictured from left: Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter Reay and Marco Andretti.

Simona De Silvestro

Ryan Briscoe. Nicole (Manske) Briscoe is one lucky lady!

(all photos courtesy of IndyCar Racing League)

Scott Dixon won the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway this past weekend. He was joined in victory lane by his wife Emma and their super adorable baby daughter Poppy. Her red hair is so cute!

Anyway, you all know how much I love to compare drivers to celebrities and I couldn’t help but think that Scott bares a striking resemblance to the lead singer of one of my all time fave bands, Stephen Christian of Anberlin. Check out the comparison below. Don’t they look like they could be brothers? They were born in the same year just days apart. How freaky cool is that??

Scott Dixon (left) and Stephen Christian (right)

In other news…

– It’s time for a Richard Antinucci update. If you remember he’s that super hot racer that carries a dual Italian/US citizenship. I gushed about my sightings of him at last year’s Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. He was in the IndyCar Series last year for five races and this year doesn’t seem to have a ride. Which boggles my mind considering that Milka Duno gets to cruise around as the resident safety hazard. Anyway, Richard is set to make his debut in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship. He’ll be driving an Audi R8 LMS for Audi Sport Italia in two events at Valleunga this Sunday and Magione in June.

– Check out this great article by Graham Rahal about his stint with Sarah Fisher Racing and his future in the IZOD IndyCar Series. I can’t believe he’s only 21. Racing sure does know how to make young guys grow up fast.

Scott Dixon and his wife Emma celebrate his victory with their daughter Poppy at the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

Jay Howard is quite a character.

(left to right) Tony Kanaan, Michael Andretti and Marco Andretti.

Ryan Hunter-Reay

Ryan Briscoe won the pole for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway.

E.J. Viso

I loved that in his interview with ESPN President Obama stressed the importance of NASCAR and its role in helping the automotive industry. It’s a very important marketing tool and I’m so glad he took the time out from his insane schedule to support the automakers and NASCAR.

Now, the other really cool thing about NASCAR’s White House trip was seeing all of the drivers in suits. They all looked like serious hotties.

(center) President Barack Obama welcomes to the White House Connie Montoya (left) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya (right) during NASCAR’s visit to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. (Photo Credit: NASCAR Public Relations)

(Left to right) Three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson presents President Barack Obama with a helmet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. (Photo Credit: Official White House Photo)

– Denny Hamlin hung out with the guys on the Virginia Tech football team while he was in town promoting Richmond International Raceway’s NASCAR race scheduled for next month.

(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin sends in a play with Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor during Hamlin’s visit to practice Thursday in Blacksburg, Va. to promote next month’s race weekend at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Harrelson Photography / Richmond International Raceway)

(Left to right) Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin switch uniforms Thursday in Blacksburg, Va. during Hamlin’s visit to promote next month’s race weekend at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Harrelson Photography / Richmond International Raceway)

– This weekend is the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway and I will be in attendance again this year.

I’m really looking forward to it but not for the reasons you might think. Two women, Kristi Yamaguchi and Jennifer Azzi, that are both Olympic gold medalists that I looked up to as a kid will be on hand for Sunday’s IndyCar race,

Azzi, who helped the US win the gold medal in basketball at the 1996 Olympics and played for Stanford University, will be the Grand Marshal. When my sister was deciding which college she would go attend to play basketball for I was around 11 years old and I got to meet Jennifer when we went to Stanford to check out their program. She gave me an autograph that I still have to this day. It was a huge deal for me at that time because she was one of the best female college basketball players in the country.

– Staying on the topic of the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, three of the drivers competing this weekend took part in another kind of race yesterday in San Francisco:

IndyCar® Series driver E.J. Viso beat the odds and took the win over fellow drivers Justin Wilson and Scott Dixon in a one-of-a-kind competition today, claiming the victory in a “Daddy Boot Camp Challenge.”

Viso, a bachelor with no children, was an unlikely winner of the challenge, which tested the drivers’ abilities at diaper changing and swaddling. Dixon, the father of a one-month old daughter, and Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing), who has a one-year old daughter, were certainly the favorites entering the competition, but Viso took the early lead and the win in the fun-filled activity. The drivers were in town in advance of this weekend’s Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway, Aug. 21-23.

Viso credited his skills and victory to helping out with his seven nephews.

“I’m very excited about the win. I think this might be a sign,” said Viso, who drives for HVM Racing. “I actually have a lot of practice (in diaper changing) because I have seven nephews, so I’ve probably changed more diapers than these two guys put together.”

The three drivers (from left) Justin Wilson, Scott Dixon and E.J. Viso compete under the watchful eye of Expectant Father Educator Armin Brott at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco (credit: Infineon Raceway)

It’s hilarious that the one guy with no children won this thing. Good job E.J.! Meanwhile, Scott and Justin have some serious splainin’ to do.

If you’re thinking about going to race this weekend, tickets are still available. Some ticket deets: $10-$65 single day/$65-$85 weekend; parking is FREE and kids 12 and under are FREE (Saturday only). Garage passes are available for purchase. More information at InfineonRaceway.com

I’ll be twittering both days so be sure to follow me for updates!

– First of all an IndyCar testing session is taking place there tomorrow from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Mario Andretti, Will Power, Tomas Scheckter, Jamie Camara, Enrique Bernoldi, E.J. Viso, Oriol Servia, Vitor Meira, Marty Roth, Alex Lloyd, Ed Carpenter, AJ Foyt IV and Townsend Bell will all be on hand. Admission is free for fans!

– As I write this Oakland A’s pitcher Brad Ziegler is being driven from downtown Oakland to the Oakland Coliseum in a two-seat, street-legal IndyCar by former IndyCar driver Davey Hamilton. Ziegler is being rewarded for his 37-inning scoreless streak.

– Saturday, August 24th will be “Firefighter Appreciation Day” at Infineon Raceway, and Sonoma resident Mitch Mulas has been named Grand Marshal of the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County:

The first 10,000 race fans that enter the raceway on Sunday will receive a FREE commemorative bracelet with the inscription, “Firefighter Appreciation Day,” and the date.

– For the first time this year fans attending the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County will be able to purchase an IndyCar Platinum Pass. What is an IndyCar Platinum Pass you say?? Well, it’ll allow you to meet drivers Helio Castroneves and Graham Rahal, plus more! Read on:

Race fans will be treated to a special question-and-answer session on Sunday morning with the two drivers. This exclusive session will take place in a hospitality tent overlooking Turn 7 and is only open to Platinum Pass members. Moreover, the Platinum Pass is the only way for fans to get a garage pass, which puts race fans just steps away from all of the stars on the IndyCar Series circuit.

Castroneves (Team Penske) is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, as well as past champion of the hit television show, Dancing with the Stars. Rahal (Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing), son of legendary driver Bobby Rahal, became the youngest winner in open-wheel history (19 years old) when he took the checkers earlier this year in St. Petersburg (Fla.).

This deluxe package costs just $195 and includes:

• Meet-and-greet with Castroneves and Rahal
• Autographed hero card from each driver
• Full-event weekend pass (your choice of seats)
• Garage Pass
• Premium Parking Pass
• Platinum Hard Card

– And as if all of that wasn’t enough Infineon is also trying to break the world record for the most people doing the Twist. Ya know, that dance your parents did when they were teenagers. They’re loosely (and I do mean loosely) tying it together with IndyCar by linking it to Helio Castroneves and his stint on “Dancing with the Stars.” It has nothing to do with racing but it’ll still be interesting to watch!

Race fans will be invited onto the race surface at Infineon Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 24, to perform a dance that best describes the most challenging road course in the country — the Twist. Participants will be required to Twist for five minutes in the style made famous by Chubby Checker in 1960. Checker will be unable to attend the event but will send a video message that will be played on the Jumbotron prior to the start of the record-breaking dance.

“I can’t be there but I wish the people a lot of luck in trying to break the record,” Checker said.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest Twist dance took place in Yorkshire, England, in 2004, when 1,691 high school students and staff danced to Checker’s classic hit. Infineon Raceway hopes to shatter that record on Aug. 24 right in front of the main grandstand.

To get your tickets to the IndyCar Race Weekend at Infineon Raceway go to www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com